Toy pistol



E. B. JONES New W, 1931.

TOY PISTOL Filed May 6, 1931 \nventcm EmesT B.Jones Patented Nov. 10, 1931 i UNITED ST PATENT OFFICE ERNEST B. JONES, OF SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL FIREWORKS, INC., OF WEST HANOVER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- GHUSETTS TOY PISTOL Application filed May 6, 1931.

This invention relates to toy pistols and more particularly to that type of pistol in which a series of fulminate caps or other explosive material are arranged in strip form to be fired successively by the repeated actuation of the trigger.

If a toy of this character is not constructed properly the one using the device or one within close range thereof may receive painful injury. It is unreasonable to expect that a young person using the pistol will exercise the discretion of an older person. In order for the child to obtain the full measure of enjoyment from the toy without subjecting himself or his playmates to injury the toy itself should be constructed in a. manner to guard against such injury. It is the chief object of this invention to provide a toy which may be used safely by the inexperienced person.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy pistol which is of simple construction and which functions reliably to discharge the shots as they are fed therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy pistol in which ready access to the interior thereof is provided to replenish the ammunition and to inspect and clean the mechanism.

Other objects and features will more fully appear from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a toy pistol embodying the principles of the invention in which one section of its casing has been removed to expose the mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the-device.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 Fig. 2.

In order to better present the principles of the invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated herein. The body of the pistol desirably is constructed of complementary major-sections 1 and 2 secured together in any suitable manner such as by means of the bolt 3 which passes laterally through the two sections. The two sections form a chamber 4 in which is received the Serial No. 535,363.

actuating mechanism of the pistol. The upper section of the casing is shaped to simulate the barrel of a regulation pistol, and is composed of two sections, one of which is formed by the upper'portion of the major section 1, While the other is a complementary barrel section 5 pivoted at 6 at a point near the butt of the pistol and is capable of being raised into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to permit replenishment of ammunition, and to clean or inspect the mechanism. Thesection 5 is locked normally in its closed position by means of a projection 7 extending from the section 5 andsituated in a position where its upper face will engage theunder face of a fixed latch 8 on the major section 1. A shoulder 9 limits the downward movement of the section 5 and cooperates with the projection 7 to secure the section 5 in its closed position. To close and lock the section 5 it is merely necessary to move the end of the section 5 adjacent the muzzle of the pistol laterally a slight amount until the projection 7 extends beneath the latch 8. To open the pistol the section 5 is forced laterally outward to release the projection 7 from its catch 8 and thus permit the section 5 to be swung upwardly about its p-ivot 6. s

The lower portions of the major sections 1 and 2 when assembled form a handle or grip 10 by means of which the pistol is held while firing. A desirable feature of the device consists in providing a support 11 for the roll of ammunition 12 in the upper portion of the casing and providing a path for the strip as it is fed through the device situated mainly in the uppermost part of the barrel of the pistol. This position of the strip of ammunition permits the operator of the pistol by opening the section 5 to have complete access thereto to adjust the initial position of the strip when loading the pistol and for cleaning and inspecting the mechanism.

The firing mechanism comprises a hammer 13 disposed substantially in a horizontal position and pivoted at 14 within the chamber.

The hammer 13 is held normally against an the pistol. Any suitable form of spring may be used such as that herein shown which consists of a section of spring wire wound about the pivot 14: with its two ends projecting forwardly, one of which engages a stop shoulder 17 while the other end is received in a notch 18 in the hammer 13.

The hammer is actuated by a trigger- 19 pivoted inthe casing at 20 and having an upwardly extending arm 21. The trigger is held normally in the full line position in Fig. 1 by means of a spring 22 which is composed of a section of spring wire wound about the pivot point 20 having oneflof its ends engaging the lower section of the trigger, and its other end engaging an abutment 23 fixed within the chamber V The abutment 23 also serves as a' stop to limit the rearward motlon of the arm 21.

fir: an.

The strip of ammunition is fed by means of a spring feeding finger 2a. The spring feeding finger desirably is of flat resilient material substantially the same width as the ammunition strip. To prevent retrograde movement of the ammunition strip between successive forward feeding movements thereof, a detent spring 25 is provided which bears upon the, ammunition strip, and is held in position between the posts 26, fixed in the chamher 4, by engagement with the abutment 23, the rearward end of the detent 25 being bent at an angle to the main portion thereof which projects into the concave portion 27 of the abutment 23.

To operate the device the trigger is actuated by the finger of the operator which causes the upwardly-extending arm 21 thereof to engage a shoulder 28 on the hammer causing the hammer 13 to be cocked into the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 1. During the cocking motion of-the hammer the inter-engaging faces of the arm 21 and the shoulder 28 have a sliding motion relatively one to another. At a given point in the travel of the hammer and the trigger, the end of the arm 21 upon the trigger passes beyond the lower edge of theshoulder 28 and into a recess 29 formed in the hammer. At this time the hammer becomes disengaged from the trigger and is permitted to move under the action. of its spring 16 which causes it to engage the strip of ammunition which lies in engagement with -.he anvil 15 thereby causing explosion of the fulminate or other explosive material contained in-the strip. Upon releasing the trigger the arm 21 engages the cam surface 30 which extends from the bottom face of the recess 29 to the lower edge of the shoulder 28. Suihcient play is provided at the pivot point 20 to permit the trigger to move laterally a sufficient amount to ride over the cam surface, and thereafter to assume its initial position with the arm .21 in proper relation to the shoulder 28. The mechanism. is now in position to be a( tuated to cause the succeeding explosion. By repeated actuations of the trigger a series of explosions may be produced until the ammunition strip has been consumed.

The standard ammunition strip is composed usually of a paper support in which small pellets 31 of fulminate or other explosive material are received which form slight projections along the strip. The feeding finger 24; will feed eifectively'the strip by frictional engagement therewith. A more positive feeding will take place, however, by so positioning the portions 31 of explosive material along the tape that the feeding finger will engage one of these pellets each time the mechanism is actuated. The present invention relates more particularly to the mechanism for guiding the strip of tape to the anvil to insure a positive feed of the tape, and proper positioning of the explosive pellet in the path of the hammer, and also to direct the products of combustion away from the iextunexplo ded pellet.

This is accomplished by providing a short guide for the tape located in proximity to the anvil, and presenting a fiat surface 32 lying transversely of and inclined to the path of the end of the feeding spring and extending below the plane of the anvil, thus providing a projection between the anvil and thetape guide which will direct the flame of the explosion away from the next unexploded pellet. Because of the angular relation of the end of the feeding spring to the tape guide 32, a positive biting engagement of the end of the spring with the tapewill be maintained throughout the entire feeding movement. The feeding of the strip is accomplished posi tively, therefore, by means of the finger 24 which moves the tape the proper distance each time the hammer is moved into its cocked position shown in dotted lines Fig; 1.

A valuable feature of the device is the manner in which the products of the explosion are deflected harmlessly in a direction which will: prevent all possibility of injury to the person using the pistol, or to one within close range thereof. A downwardly-extending wall 32 is provided at the muzzle of the pistol, and is desirably a continuation of the anvil 15. The lower end of the barrel portion of the casing is cut away to form the opening 33.

VVhen the explosion takes place, therefore,

the products there-of are confined in a chamber formed by the anvil itself, the deflector wall 42 and the sides of the barrel portion. The only possible outlet, therefore, for the products of the explosion is downwardly through the opening 33. Obviously, the harmful effects of the products of the explosion are greatly minimized by permitting their expansion within the chamber of the barrel and forcing them to be projected downwardly. Furthermore, the natural tendency for the operator of the piston to point the barrel toward another object or a person can have no harmful effect since the force of the explosion is projected harmlessly clownward.

The combination of the efiicient mechanism disclosed herein, and the safeguarding features incorporated therein, constitute a very desirable and attractive toy which may be used by a child without fear of causing harm to himself or his playmates. Furthermore, the reliable function of the mechanism provides a feeling of satisfaction and prevents waste of ammunition.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A toy pistol comprising a hollow casing having an upper barrel portion and a lowor handle portion, an anvil in the muzzle end of the barrel portion, a support for a roll of ammuniiion in strip form situated at the breech end of the barrel portion, a substantially horizontal guiding wall in the barrel over which the ammunition strip is fed from the roll to the anvil, a horizontally disposed spring-actuated hammer pivoted in the easing in position to strike the anvil, a trigger pivoted in the casing operable to move the hammer against the action of the spring and to release the hammer at a predetermined point in its travel, a detent spring engaging the ammunition strip to prevent retrograde movement thereof and a movable section extending the length of the barrel portion above the hammer and trigger pivots and including at least one-half of the top area and one side of the barrel pivoted at the breech end upon the casing laterally thereof and operable to swing upwardly thereby completely exposing the top and one side of the ammunition strip without disturbing the handle portion of the casing.

2. A toy pistol comprising a hollow casing, a support for a roll of ammunition in strip form, an anvil situated adjacent the muzzle, a spring-actuated hammer pivoted in the casing in position to strike the anvil, a feeding finger operable to feed the ammunition strip from the roll to the anvil, a trigger pivoted in the casing acting to cook the hammer and to release it at a predetermined point in its travel, a detent spring engaging the strip to prevent retrograde movement thereof and a downwardly disposed deflector wall forward of and adjacent the anvil in position to deflect downwardly the products of the explosion and prevent said products from being projected forward from the nozzle when the pistol is fired.

3. A repeating toy pistol simulating an automatic pistol and comprising an integral half section presenting a body having a handle and a barrel having integral therewith adjacent its muzzle a short inwardly extending downwardly inclined tape guide and an anvil located above the lower end of said tape guide, a laterally extending stud adjacent and integral with the butt of said barrel to receive a roll of tape ammunition, a complementary body and a handle section secured to said integral section, a spring-actuated hammer pivotally mounted in the chamber formed by said body and said complementary body having its free end in cooperative relation to said anvil, a trigger similarly mounted for actuating said hammer, a feeding spring cooperating with said tape guide and operable upon the cocking of the hammer to advance the tape, a detent spring cooperating with said tape guide in proximity to said feeding spring, a complementary barrel section laterally hinged to said body section at the butt thereof adapted to be swung to a position to expose the tape-receiving stud, the feeding and retaining springs, ta e guide and anvil and means forv normally holding the movable barrel section in closed position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ERNEST B. JONES.-

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